Ladder.



No. 781,898. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

F. MQNAUGHTON.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Wi;%sE

No. 781,898. PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905. F. MONAUGHTON.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1904.

2 SHEETSBHEBT 2.

Wm M ifazz fiizw Inventor.

Q '8 Httornegs UNITED STATES Patented February '7' 1905,

PATENT Glance.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,898, dated February '7, 1905,

Application filed May 17, 1904. Serial No. 208.431.

To (11/ who/1t it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MoNmenroN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Raymond, in the county of Montgomery and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to adjustable ladders, and has for its principal object to provide a sectional ladder which may be adjusted to different positions for the formation of various articles of furniture, such, for instance, as a straight ladder, a step-ladder, a bench, a combined clothesavringer and washtub-support, a clotheshorse, a lawn-chair, and a sawbuck.

\Vith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device adjusted to form a small step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts adjusted to form a large step-ladder. Fig. 3 shows the parts adjusted to form a bench or washtub-support. Fig. i is a similar view of the parts adjusted to form a combined washtub and clotheswringer support. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device adjusted to form a clothes-horse. Fig. 6 shows the parts adjusted to form a lawnchair. Fig. 7 illustrates the construction of the detachable brace employed for holding some of the parts in adjusted position. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the device adjusted to form a sawbuck.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The ladder forming the subject of this invention is formed of three main sections, two of which are further subdivided, so that the ladder may be said to comprise five sections in all, of which the section 1 comprises one main section, the sections 2 and 3 the second main section, and the sections 4 and the third main section, all of the sections being connected at their adjacent ends by hinges 6 in such manner that they can be bent or turned only in one direction. All of the main sections are of equal length, and two of said main sections, as previously described, are each subdivided into two sections, also of equal length, and all of the side bars of the sections taper, so that when all of the sections are in alinement a straight ladder, having continuously-tapered sides, will be formed. Each of the sections is provided with a suitable number of rungs T, and in addition to the rungs the lower portion ofthe main section 1 is provided with a cross-piece S, to which a clotheswringer may be attached, as more fully described hereinafter.

Pivoted to the inner face of one of the side rails of the section 3 is a hook 9, which is preferably T-shaped in form, presenting two bills, either of which may be hooked into an eye 10 upon the section 4: when desired. Upon each side rail of the section l is secured an abutment 11, the two abutments being disposed in alinement transversely of said section &. The function of these abutments will be more fully described hereinafter. The upper portion of each of the side rails of the section 5 is provided with a notch or recess forming end hooks 12, which at times may be engaged with certain of the rungs of one of the other sections, or, if preferred, metallic hooks may be firmly secured to the upper ends of the side rails of the section 5 instead of cutting away or notching said side rails, as described. A brace-strip 13, which is formed with hooked ends H and 15, is provided for use in connection with the device when necessary. The hooks at the ends of the brace may be formed in any suitable manner, either by cutting away the ends thereof or by attaching metallic hooks thereto. in

practice it is preferred to form the hook ll by cutting a notch in the end of the brace and the hook by attaching a piece of bent strip metal thereto, as shown more clearly in Fig.

7. A seat-bottom 16 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6) is provided for use when the device is employed as a lawn-chair. V

In using the device first as a straight ladder the sections are all turned into alinement with the hinges on the inner side,and the weight of a person on the ladder will then maintain it in proper position. If the ladder be too long for the purpose desired when stretched out, one, two, or three of the sections may be folded along the under side of the lower section and hooked in place or the main section 4 4: may be folded under the main section 3 and form one side of an A- shaped step-ladder, of which the other side is formed by the main section 1 and its opposite sides connected by the brace, as shown in Fig. 1, thus forming a short step-ladder. I/Vhere a longer step-ladder is desired, the sections are turned at the hinged connection between sections 2 and 3, forming sides of equal length, and these are connected by the brace, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to employ the device as a bench or as a support for a washtub or the like, the sections 4. and 5 are folded at an acute angle to each other, and the main sections 1 and 2 3 are also arranged at an acute angle to each other. The end of the section 5 is fitted between the side rails of the section 3, and main section 1 extends across the apex of the approximately A- shaped support, one rung of the section 1 being supported by the abutments 11 11 on the section 4, thus forming a rigid structure that will support a heavy weight.

In order to form a washtub and clotheswringer support, the section 2 is placed upon the floor, as shown in Fig. 1, the section 1 is turned upward on a vertical line, the section 3 is bent upward at an obtuse angle to the section 2, and the main section 4. 5 is arranged in a horizontal plane, the hooked end of section 5 being fitted over one of the rungs of the section 1. The brace-stick 13 is then engaged at its upper end with the rung with which the ends 12 are engaged, and the lower hooked end of said brace-stick is engaged with one of the rungs of the section 2. The upper portion of the brace-stick bears against the under side of the undermost rung of the section 5 and forms a firm support for said section 5. The washtub may then be placed upon the sections 1 and 5 and the clotheswringer attached to the cross-piece 8 of the section 1.

In using the device as a clothes-horse the three main sections are arranged to form an open-sided rectangle, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and the brace-stick passing between the rungs of the section 1 and the end of the section 3' resting on the ground. The section 4 is then bent upward, and the section 5 is passed outward through the section 3, resting upon one of the rungs of the ladder, as shown in Fig. 6. The bracestick'13 is then engaged with the sections 1 and 2, the flat metallic hook 15 being engaged with the section 2 in order that no uncomfortable projection may be formed in the back-rest of the lawn-chair. When the,device is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 6, a seat 16 (shown in dotted lines) may be placed around the projecting portion of the section 5, if desired.

The device is turned into a sawbuck by placing the section 1 upon the ground or floor, bending the main section 2 3 at an acute angle to the main section 1, bending the section 4: down until it rests on the section 1, and bending the section 5 up-between the side rails of the section 3, so that it may rest against one of the rungs of the ladder. The wood to be cut on the sawbuck is supported in the crotch formed by the sections 3 and 5.

The improved combination ladder, washtub, and clothes-wringer support, clothesrack, lawn-chair, and sawbuck of this invention is strong, simple, and inexpensive in construction and thoroughly practical in use.

Changes in the particular arrangement of parts and details of construction described may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the laddersections may be pivotally joined together by other means than the hinges 6. Therefore in the following claims when a hinge connection is referred to the term is intended to cover any pivotal connection suitable for the purpose in view.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A ladder structure formed of three main sections of equal length, two of said sections being further subdivided, hinges connecting the adjacent end portions of the several sections to permit their adjustment to different positions, the sections tapering continuously from end to end, thereby to permit the introduction of the narrowest end section between the side rails of the other sections in the formation of articles of furniture of different shapes.

2. A ladder structure formed of three main sections of equal length, two of said sections being each subdivided into two sections also of equal length, hinges connecting said sections in a continuous series, the side rails of the sections tapering continuously from end to end of the structure to permit the passage of the narrowest end section through one of the intermediate sections, and a hooked brace fonsupporting the sections in adjusted position.

3. In a ladder structure, three main sections of equal length, two of which are subdivided into two sections also of equal length, hinges connecting said sections in a continuous series, the side rails of all of the sections tapering continuously from end to end of the structure, and tixed abutments carried by one of said sections for the reception and support of a rung of one of the adjacent sections.

a. A combination-ladder of the kind specilied, comprising a plurality of hinged laddersections tapering from one end to the other, the widest section being approximately double the length of each of the other sections and having a cross-piece thereon in addition to its rungs, a T-shaped hook on one of the sections, 5 an eye on another section, a pair of abutments on one of the sections, and, hooks formed on the end of the narrowest section.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afl'ixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK MoNAUUrl-ITON.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN MoMILLAN, JOHN H. MILLER. 

